Victim Support launch live chat service (24 July 2017)

Victims of crime have another way of accessing support after
Victim Support received a cash boost to fund a live web chat
service.

West Yorkshire's Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Mark
Burns-Williamson who commissions and oversees victims services in
West Yorkshire agreed to give £13,000 funding to the charity to
fund a pilot of their West Yorkshire Live Chat service until
March.

It means victims of crime can talk online to a specially trained
supporter, increasing the options of face to face or the telephone,
to access support and advice.

The money comes from the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) Victims and
Witness grant.

The service, which launches today (MON) will be available from
9am to 5pm Monday to Friday across West Yorkshire via the Victim
Support website. It will be only one of a few areas across the
country where Victim Support, the current victim service provider
in the West Yorkshire operates, that is using and trying out this
service.

Mark Burns-Williamson (PCC ) said: "I am very pleased to be able
to support this Live Chat service pilot as being a victim of crime
can have a significant impact on a person's life, on their family
and in their community, so accessing timely support in this way is
vital.

"I want to encourage and support all organisations to identify
innovative ways of supporting victims of crime and this is another
way of looking to ensure victims have access to direct emotional
and practical support in line with modern, accessible and
confidential services.

"The Victims Code sets out the services which will be provided
across the region to ensure specialist help is provided to support
victims and their families to cope and recover from the impacts of
crime, particularly the most vulnerable.

"People can also access support at our Help for Victims website
which will soon have a link to the victim Support Live Chat
function pilot at www.helpforvictims.co.uk and look forward to
seeing how the service progresses during this period."

Lesley McLean, Victim Support's manager, said: "The Live Chat
service means that victims of crime can now speak to a supporter
online and is another opportunity for people to access support.

"It provides an alternative to people who perhaps don't want to
meet someone face to face or speak on the telephone.

"I want to thank the PCC for his support in ensuring victims of
crime can access services with another option available to
them."